Robert Goodwin Fallowfield

Date of birth:

1883

Place of birth:

Tunbridge Wells

Service No.:

09679

Rank:

Private

Regiment:

Army Ordnance Corps

Battalion:

Egypt Expeditionary Force

Died:

18th February 1917 aged 33 years

Death location:

Egypt

Life before the War
Robert was the oldest of four siblings born to George and Agnes Mary, nee Goodwin. George was born in Kendal in 1850 and was a Draper by trade. He died in Bury St. Edmunds in 1912. Agnes was born in Framlingham in 1856 and was a Milliner. She died in Bury St. Edmunds in 1926.

The family was based in Bury St. Edmunds for many years, with the two youngest children being born there. There is no reason to be found as to why Robert and a sister were born in Kent.

Gilbert and Grace were twins. Neither of them married. Gilbert became a Draper and Grace a Teacher.

At the 1911 Census Robert was living as a boarder with the Newson family, at 27 Castle Street, Southampton. His occupation was Shop Assistant.

Robert married Florence Ada Gould in Southampton in the second quarter of 1916. Florence was born in the city in 1885 and lived at 25 Padwell Road with her family. Unfortunately, Florence did not live much longer than Robert, she died in 1919.

Service HistoryThe Egypt Expeditionary Force (EEF)was formed in Egypt on 10 March 1916. It was under the command of General Archibald Murray and was initially formed to protect the Suez Canal.

It wasn’t long before the EEF became part of a large reserve force for the Western Front. It was also around this time that Robert got married so it can be presumed that he was on leave when the EEF was formed.

Upon his return to action in January 1917 Robert found his battalion participating in the Batttle of Rafa. It was of little consequence to Robert that this battle turned into a victory for the Allies, for it is possibly during this action that he lost his life.

Robert is buried in the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Plot D, Grave 90. His gravestone reads “Until the day break”.

The cemetery was begun in April 1916, when it was realised that the cemetery at Chatby would not be large enough. Most of the burials were from Alexandria hospitals, although some graves were brought in from burial grounds in the Western desert, Maadia and Rosetta, in 1919.

Researcher:

Mark Heritage

Published.:

13th January 2015

Updated:

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